SOUTH PUTNAM GIRLS' BASKETBALL SECTIONAL: Wolves clamp down on Clovers in sectional opener

Cloverdale senior Emily Mann (right) fought an uphill battle against Parke Heritage in the opening round of IHSAA Girls' Basketball Class 2A Sectional No. 44 play, scoring all 14 Clover points in a 53-14 loss to the Wolves.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

The Cloverdale Clovers faced an uphill battle going into their opening round match up with the 20-win Parke Heritage Wolves at the IHSAA Girls’ Basketball Class 2A Sectional No. 44 held at South Putnam.

Emma Simpson scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Wolves handed the Clovers a 53-14 loss Wednesday night.

The first four minutes of the game looked promising for Cloverdale as Emily Mann scored a basket after an offensive rebound and then hit two free throws to put the Clovers up four early.

It took the Wolves a little bit to get going, missing their first six shots. Simpson got it rolling, scoring eight-straight points, including two threes, and all of a sudden Parke Heritage was up 8-4.

Turnovers then became the Clovers’ biggest enemy, giving Parke Heritage easy looks to on a 10-0 run the rest of the way to lead 18-4 at the first break.

Simpson continued with the hot hand in the second, finishing with 21 points at the half. Mann tried to battle, picking up seven more in the quarter, but the Wolves, who went 8-of-16 from the field in the period, took command of the game, leading 36-11 at intermission.

It was more of the same in the third as Cloverdale still had issues with turnovers.

Parke Heritage scored the first 14 points of the third, built an insurmountable lead. Mann broke the Clover scoring drought, hitting one of two foul shots for the team’s only points in the period. With the clock now in running mode, chances would be limited the rest of the way.

Parke Heritage emptied the bench and would be held scoreless in the final quarter. Mann then would add the last points of the game as the Clovers would fall 53-14.

“I can’t thank Emily Mann enough, getting to coach her the last four years. She always gives everything she has; she’s been that way since she was a freshman,” said Clover coach J.J. Wade.

Mann finished with all 14 Cloverdale points while grabbing eight rebounds.

“I also want to thank Millie (Haga). She twisted her ankle a couple of weeks ago and could have packed it in, but went out and did everything she could,” added coach Wade.

Parke Heritage now will advance to the second semifinal against Southmont. Greencastle faces Riverton Parke in the first game.

Team Stats

Individual Stats

Scoring - (CL) Mann 14; (PH) Simpson 28, Addison Jenkins 12, O’Brien 5, Addilee Jenkins 4, Benjamin 2, Perkins 2

Rebounding - (CL) Mann 8, Nichols 6, Lee 5, Haga 1, Ford 1; (PH) Simpson 9, Addilee Jenkins 5, Addison Jenkins 4, Benjamin 3, Myers 1, O’Brien 1